Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 27.djvu/110

 102 Southern Historical Society Papers.

[From the Richmond, Va., I>i*]xitch, November 7, 1899.]

JOHNSON'S ISLAND.

A Visit to the Confederate Cemetery of the Prison.

Its Condition Described Services on Decoration-Day A List of Those Buried There What Should be Done A Fund Needed.

[The devoted effort of our noble women of the South, which has been so constantly efficacious, is confidently invoked for the sacred object stated. ED.]

In company with a friend, your correspondent paid a visit to the now lonely burial plat on Johnson's Island, where over two hundred members of the Confederate army are buried.

Soon after the breaking out of hostilities between the North and South, in the war of 1861 to 1865, a prison cam'p was established on Johnson's Island, in Sandusky bay, about three miles north of this city, where were sent many officers of the Confederate army for safe- keeping, until exchanged or the war was over.

The island is a picturesque spot, about three miles long and about three-quarters of a mile wide.

There is no regular communication with the island, and to reach the same one must charter a small boat, or he may be lucky enough to get to the island through the kindness of some fisherman, who goes in the vicinity to draw seines for fresh water fish.

The soil is good, and in places there are quite extensive openings where stone has been quarried for domestic use.

The old prison camp lay in full view from this city, and as the island is surrounded by a good depth of water on all sides, it was regarded by Northern men as a most safe and healthy spot for the establishment of a military prison camp.

There was a stockade of plank about the prison quarters at the time of its use, but which has now all disappeared. There yet re- mains t\vo or three buildings where the officers of the guard had their quarters, and the old guard-house, to mark the spot.

Just east of the camp, which was situated on gently rolling land that dropped towards the bay, to the south, was a small earth forti- fication for the protection of the camp, should it ever be surprised